Download PDF The Russian Tradition Tibor Szamuely 9780006861515 Books
Download As PDF : The Russian Tradition Tibor Szamuely 9780006861515 Books
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Download PDF The Russian Tradition Tibor Szamuely 9780006861515 Books
"A very interesting book, though tendentious and somewhat contrarian. Szamuely's central thesis is that some of the more disagreeable features of Stalinism were foreshadowed in the czarist era, even back to the Time of Troubles. He makes a strong case, with pungent and generally scholarly examples. This is not a particularly balanced account; Szamuely is at no pains to disguise his contempt for the foolishness of the Jacobin radicals or the pitilessness of the aristocracy. The book stops with the appearance of Lenin, so Stalin himself is not in the cast of characters. I doubt that the book would be much different if it were written today. The author points out many things which contradict the conventional wisdom: Russians did not much like Marx, nor he them. Marx advised that Marxism not be imposed upon revolutionary Russia, because the people weren't ready for it. I recommend this book to those who have already read a sober history of Russia; it's probably not the place to start."
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The Russian Tradition Tibor Szamuely 9780006861515 Books Reviews :
The Russian Tradition Tibor Szamuely 9780006861515 Books Reviews
- This is not a traditional straight history but rather an in-depth analysis of political thought in Russia up to the time of the Revolution. The parallels the author draws between radical philosophy of the 19th century and today's "progressives" is telling (although he didn't intend it at the time, writing back in the 1970s.) The emphasis on "equality" over liberty and respect for law is what led the communists to their unending dictatorship. Very insightful.
- "The Russian Tradition" by Tibor Szamuely is the best book on Russian history of all those I have read. Lucid and highly readable. Inter alia, it bears out what someone - I forget who - once said about Russia, that it is a "disorganized crime syndicate". It should be kept in print.
- If one wants to understand Putin's actions, should read this book. Mr. Szamuely knew Russia-Sovietunion first hand and it shows. This is one of the best book to reach into the Russian psyche, define and explain it.
- A very interesting book, though tendentious and somewhat contrarian. Szamuely's central thesis is that some of the more disagreeable features of Stalinism were foreshadowed in the czarist era, even back to the Time of Troubles. He makes a strong case, with pungent and generally scholarly examples. This is not a particularly balanced account; Szamuely is at no pains to disguise his contempt for the foolishness of the Jacobin radicals or the pitilessness of the aristocracy. The book stops with the appearance of Lenin, so Stalin himself is not in the cast of characters. I doubt that the book would be much different if it were written today. The author points out many things which contradict the conventional wisdom Russians did not much like Marx, nor he them. Marx advised that Marxism not be imposed upon revolutionary Russia, because the people weren't ready for it. I recommend this book to those who have already read a sober history of Russia; it's probably not the place to start.
